Assembling machine



July 25, 1950 G. R. ECKSTEIN ASSEMBLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 1, 1946 INVENTOR y 1950 G. R'ECKSTEIN 2,516,687

ASSEHBLING mcamz Filed Nov. 1, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 '3 )T a m l M- I WI I 1 P "11 Q I u N a I \n in A 1}"? P z 3 u k I v a" a: R 8 m 2" E w xo W Q & I

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I? v c 5 3 I m I J v I INVENTOR GEORGE/P. [CI/{STEIN BY 3 h. M k

ATTORNEY July 25, 1950 Filed Nov. 1, 1946 G. R. ECKSTEIN ASSEMBLINGMACHINE a Sheeis-Sheet :s

INVENTOR AT N EY y 1950 ca. R. ECKSTEIN 2,516,687

A SEMBLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Un l July 25,1950 s. R. ECKSTEIN ASSEMBLING mum:

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 1, 1946 INVENTOR 129 GEO/965R. fc/rs 75/ yewHM" ATTORNEY 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 July 25, 1950 cs. R. ECKSTEIN ASSEMBLINGMACHINE Filed Nov. 1, 194's lll 1 Patented July 25, 1950 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE ASSEMBLING MACHINE George R. Eckstein, Milford, Conn.,assignor to n Arms Company, Inc., Bridgeport, Com, a. corporation ofDelaware 7 Application November 1, 1946, Serial No. 707,092

12 Claims." (Cl. 86-1) 1 This invention relates to machines forassembling a plurality of small components and, in the embodimentillustrated in the drawings, contemplates the assembly of threecomponents of an electric primer comprising a tubular body, a contact.button and a perforated sheet of insulating material, which sheet isinterposed between the body and the contact button.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine from which, for greater clearness,outlines of many concealed or partially concealed parts have beenomitted.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation substantially on the line2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic fragmentary sectional elevation on aportion of the line a 2-2 of Fig. I intended particularly to shOW theprogress of components and assemblies through the machine.

Fig. 4 is a view similiar to Fig. 3, showing punches, movable dies andcomponent transfer stems in retracted position.

Fig. 5 is a detail of a contact button holding and guiding devicesubstantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation substantially onthe line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section substantially onthe line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic end view of the drive shaft and cams thereon.

Fig. 9 is a perspective of the recn'procating tape feed assembly.

Fig. 10 is a detached longitudinal elevation of the. means for removingassemblies ejected from the dies.

Fig. 11 is a partial vertical sectional view on the line ll.-ll of Fig.1.

General description The invention, in a specific aspect, contemplates asimple rugged and highly accurate machine for the assembly of the threecomponents of an electric primer into a finished unit. In generalconstruction and functioning the machine comprises a stationary dieplate having an upwardly opening passage through which primer bodies areintroduced. The lowermost body of a stack is transferred into anassembly die in which there are assembled into the body an insulatingdisk and a. contact button. The as sembly is then transferred to asecond die, mounted in the same fixed die plate, in which the assemblyis crimped into a finished unloaded primer. The transfer, assembly andcrimping tools are all mounted on two reciprocating gates located onopposite sides of the transfer plate and carried on guide rods extendingthrough the transfer plate. The tools are so mounted and moved thattheir work-enga ing ends are at all times held in and guided by fixedparts associated with the die holders. Contact buttons are introducedinto the upper portion of one of the two reciprocating gates and by themovement of the gate, augmented by a separate reciprocating plunger, areassembled into the primer body held in the assembly die. A tape ofinsulating material is introduced into one side of the machine and,having been appropriately perforated, passes between the assembly dieand the button advancing means. A cutting punch associated with the leftgate severs a disk from the tape, and this disk is transferred into theprimer body by the advancing contact button. The disk is of suchdiameter that a marginal portion thereof folds around the contact buttonin a way which insures insulation of the button from the body. Theprimer thus assembled is thereupon pushed out of the assembly die anddrops through a short passage into position for insertion, by anassembly stem on the right gate, into a crimping die in which an endportion of the body is crimped over the contact button and theinsulating material by a crimper head mounted upon the right gate.

In the following description, the terms righ and left refers to theposition of the parts as illustrated in the drawings in which themachine is viewed from the side opposite the tape supporting table andadjacent to cam 20 which operates the right gate.

Frame and driving means Referring now to the drawings, the machinecomprises a base In of heavy construction, having secured thereto endplates II and I2 and a center plate l3, all of which are suitablyapertured and recessed to receive the various working parts to bedescribed. Secured to and extending between the end plates II and I2 andthrough the center plate l3 are four guide rods M. A drive and cam shaftl5, held in bearings in suitable supports l6 secured to the base Ill anddriven from an external source of power by suitable means, such as asprocket l1, carries a series of cams which control the operation of allmoving parts. The center plate l3, as well as end plates II and I2, isrigidly secured to the guide rods l4. Slidably mounted on guide rods Mare a right gate assembly I B and a left gate assembly IS. The rightgate assembly is actuated by a cam 20 secured to cam shaft l5 through acam follower 2| mauled by a lever 22 pivoted on an arbor 23 carried insuitable bearings in end plate ll. Arbor 23 has secured thereto a lever24 which is joined to lever 22 by a, shear pin 25, this shear pinconnection being typical of several which are usedthroughout themachine. In general, moving parts are positively actuated on theirworking stroke and are spring returned, security against damage in theevent of jams being effected by the use of shear pin connections. Thespring which holds cam follower 2| in contact with the periphery of cam20 is shown at 26. As the springs 50 and 26 return the cam followersafter passing the high spot of the cams, there is a tendency for theshaft l5 to speed up Over-running is prevented by the employment of abrake I40 held in engagement with a pulley l4! on shaft by a spring I42.Arbor 23 carries a crank 21 and a crank pin 28, to the end portions ofwhich are secured short connecting rods 29, the opposite ends of suchrods being secured to an arbor 30 having journal bearings in elements ofthe right gate assembly l8, which elements w be presently described.

Right gate to support and reciprocate a body transfer stem and anassembly transfer stem; such assembly comprises a pair of verticallydisposed side blocks 3 l each apertured to receive and reciprocate upontwo of the guide rods l4. Within the apertures are placed suitableanti-friction bearings, and blocks and bearings are of such length as toinsure an accurate rectilinear movement upon the guide rods. The blocks3! are rigidly secured together by means of a transversely extending topplate 32 and a similar bottom plate 33. Likewise secured to the plates32 and 33 is a substantially centrally disposed transfer stem holdermounting block 34 in which is secured, by suitable means such as a screw35, a stem holder 36. and bottom plates 32 and 33 comprise ribs 32a and33a engaging respectively with the sides of the side blocks 3| and thepunch holder mounting block 34, which insure the correct transverserelative positioning of these parts and add to the rigidity of theassembly. Arbor 30 passes through aligned apertures in the side blocks,and the stem holder mounting block and connecting rods 29 are locatedbetween the side blocks and the stem holder mounting block. The stemholder 36 receives and supports a body transfer stem 31 and an assemblytransfer stem 38, said stems bottoming in the holder 36 against wedgeshaped adjustable keys 39 by which the effective length of the stems canbe accurately adjusted. Fig. 2

shows the right gate assembly in retracted position, and it will benoted that both stems 31 and 3B are well within apertures in the centerplate 13; this construction prevents any injury to the.

stems and insures their accurate alignment with the work as hereinafterdescribed.

Left gate assembly The left gate assembly is similar in generalconstruction to the right gate assembly, comprising a pair of sideblocks 40, each apertured to receive a pair of the guide rods I4 andjoined together by a top plate 4i and a bottom plate 42, to which platesthere is also secured a centrally disposed punch and die holder mountinblock 43. The assembl is reciprocated on guide rods I4 by a cam 44secured to the drive shaft l5 and actuating a cam follower 45 mounted ona lever 46 pivoted on an arbor 41 journalled in the left end plate l2and having secured thereto an arm 48 joined by a shear pin 49 to oneextremity of lever 46. Cam follower 45 is held in contact with theperiphery of cam 44 by a suitable spring, such as 50. Upon arbor 41 ismounted a crank 5| carrying crank pin 52 which supports a pair The top 1of connecting rods 53, the opposite ends of which are secured to anarbor 54 having journal bearings in the side blocks 40 and the punch anddie of perforations in a continuous tape of insulating material, cuttingfrom the tape a disk including the perforations, feeding a contactbutton into engagement with the disk and assembling both the insulatingdisk and the contact button into a primer body, and crimping the Lodyover button and insulation. The assembly tools are located opposite andcooperate with the body transfer stem 31, and the crimper head islocated opposite and cooperates with the assembly transfer stem 38. Theperforating of the tape is a preliminary operation, and there are nocounterpart tools associated with the right gate assembly l8.

The tape perforating tool is carried in a bracket 55 secured to the sideblock 40 adjacent the tape feed device to be described. Said bracketcomprises lateral projections 56 and 51, between which is received ahead 58 of the tape perforating assembly. Projection 51 is slotted fromits free end to receive punches 59 which project from the head 58 towardand through apertures 59! in a block 592 (Figs. 6 and '7) held in slotsin a die plate 86 and cover plate 81 secured to center plate l3 and tobe further described. Block 592 is transversely apertured to receive theinsulating tape, and behind the tape and in alignment with the punchholding apertures 59l are a second set of apertures into and throughwhich the punches advance, delivering the tape punchings into acounterbore 593 in block 592, which counterbore communicates with apunch ing delivery tube 594. Any desired pattern of punches can be used.An assembly of three punches has been illustrated, said punches being sospaced as to provide openings through the insulation which are spacedonly a short distance from the margin of the button supporting flange ofthe primer body. In this way, the path of current travel is short, ascompared with the conventional single centrally disposed perforation;likewise, the central portion of the insulating disk remains intact, andthe stretching and failure which characterize centrally perforated disksis obviated.

To the face of the punch and die holder block 43 is secured a plate 60,the upper portion of which is slotted to provide a vertical passage 6|for contact buttons which are supplied through a feed chute 62 securedto block 43. Plate 60 is likewise recessed to receive the tape blankingpunch 63, the end portion of which remains at all times within a guidebushing 63! held in the fixed die assembly to be described. Said punchcomprises a hollow stem, the end portion of which cooperates with ablanking die, to be described, to sever a disk of insulation from thetape. Contact buttons supplied through slot Si in turn assume a positionin the bottom of this slot between a contact button transfer stem 64 anda button retainer identified generally by numeral 65 and illustrated inFig. 5. Reference is also made to Figs. 3 and 4, each of which shows acolumn of contact buttons C in the position they occupy in the slot 6|.In Fig. 4, the lowermost contact button rests on the bottom of slot BIand supports the column of buttons above it. In Fig. 3 the transfer stem64 is in advanced position, and the lowermost button rests upon theperiphery of this stem. The buttons being disks which are of smallthickness with respect to their diameter. it is necessary to retain thelowermost button in a vertical osition until it is engaged and moved oneof which will be described: An outer arcuate slot 88 of substantiallength is joined to a radial slot 81 by an enlarged aperture 68. Aninner and a shorter arcuate slot 88 is joined to a short radial slot I8by an enlarged aperture II. There is thus formed a tongue 2 supported bya flexible arm I8, and a tongue II which is radially joined to the bodyof the disk and is thus less easily displaceable than tongue I2. Thearcuate inner margins of the three tongues I2 define a circle which isof slightly less diameter than the diameter of a contact button C, whilethe arcuate inner margins of the three tongues I4 define a circle of adiameter substantially equal to the diameter of a contact button. Thetongues I2 are thus able to retain the lowermost button in a verticalposition until it is engaged by the transfer stem or punch 84, Upon suchengagement the tongues I2 are displaced to permit passage of the buttoninto and through the hollow stem of the tape blanking punch 83.

It will be noted that the button transfer stem 64, while guided forreciprocation by a bore 64a in'the left gate assembly, must be given aseparate movement in addition to the movement of said gate assembly, inorder to transfer each button in turn through the blanking punch, whichis rigidly secured to said gate assembly The means for so moving stem 64may be constructed as follows: A cam on drive shaft I5 is engaged by acam follower I6 mounted on short lever 11 pivoted on the boss -'I8l ofone of a pair of arms I8 se-.

cured to an arbor I8 supported in an aperture in the punch and dieholding block 43. Lever IT has a shear pin connection at 88 with anextension of one of the arms I8. The two arms I8 extend upward andleftward, and are pivotally connected at 8| to a pair of arms 82 whichare journalled on a cross-head 83 in which the transfer stem 84 isadjustably held. The assembly is retracted and follower I8 held againstcam I5 by suitable means such as spring 84, held in a housing 8 andjoined to a convenient part of the assembly, such as the end of thebutton transfer stem 64. The design and timing of cam I5 is such thatstem 84 is given its forward movement to transfer a button C from thebase of slot 6| through the retainer 65 and hollow blanking punch 83 andinto the assembly die (to be described) after the insulating disk hasbeen blanked from the tape by punch 88 in the forward movement ofgateassembly I8. I

Die assembly The dies in which the components are assembled and theassembly crimped are rigidly mounted on the fixed center plate l3. Theassembly die is accurately aligned with body transfer stem 81, blankingpunch 83 and button transfer stem 54; while the crimping die is alignedwith assembly transfer stem 38 and a crimper head 85 carried by the leftgate assembly I9 in an appropriately shaped recess in the plate 80. Thedie holders comprise a die plate 86 and a cover plate 8.1. The die plate88 is slotted to provide a vertical passage 88 communicating with achute 89 through which the primer bodies B are received in side-by-siderelation. When the body transfer punch is retracted, the lowermost bodyB rests on the bottom of slot 88 (see Fig. 2) which supports it in theposition shown in Fig. 4 in alignment with the transfer stem 31 and withan assembly die 98 held in die plate 88. As the transfer punch isadvanced it picks up the lowermost body of the stack and advances itinto and partly through assembly die 98 to the position shown in Fig. 3.The body being in this position, the blankng punch 53 is advanced tosever a disk of insulating material from the tape T, which disk iscarried forward on the end of the blanking punch and presented to theend of the primer body. Thereafter, button transfer stem 84 is advanced,carrying with it a contact button, as heretofore described, engagingsuch contact button with the disk D of insulation carried on the end ofblanking punch 63, and simultaneously moving said disk and the contactbutton into the primer body. A blanking die BI cooperates with theblanking punch 63 in severing the disk D from tape T. Tape T isintermittently advanced, by mechanism to be hereinafter described, andit will be noted that the retrograde movement of the tape advancingmechanism occurs while both blanking punch 63 and perforating punches59are in advanced position, extending through the tape and thereby holdingthe tape against backward movement.

Fig. 4 diagrammatically shows the essential elements of the die assemblywith the transfer stems and other parts associated with the tworeciprocating gates in retracted position. It will be seen that anassembled uncrimped primer lies within the die 90 and that stem 8! isbehind another primer body B ready to thrust such body into the die onits next advancing movement. The assembled primer within the die ispushed on through the die by such body B and falls into a secondvertical slot 92 which extends entirely through the die plate 85. Theinner and lower portion of blanking die 8| is slotted as shown toprovide ample clearance for the assembled primer thus ejected fromassembly die 98. The lower end of slot 92 is closed by a removableretainer 98 provided with a finger piece 932 and held in place by a key93! provided with a manipulative handle. Thus, retainer 93 can beremoved at will, to facilitate clearing of jams which might occur infeed passage 92. The arcuate upper surface of the retainer is adapted tohold a primer assembly A in alignment with assembly transfer stem 38 andcrimper head 85. Upon each advance of assembly transfer stem 38, thelowermost assembly is withdrawn, the next assembly above resting uponthe periphery of stem 38, and moved into and partly through a crimpingdie 94 (Fig. 3). However, the crimper head of gate assembly l9 has beenpreviously advanced into contact with the face of die 98, so that thehead and die together form substantially a solid and blind die intowhich the primer assembly is thrust by stem 38. In this movement the endportion of the cylindrical body is turned inwardly to conform to theshape of the cavity in the crimper head and the assembly of the primeris thus completed. As crimper head 85 and stem 38 are retracted, theassembled and crimped primer remains in the die 94 from which it isejected by the forward movement of the next succeeding assembly A uponthe assembly transfer stem 88.

To facilitate the downward movement of assemblies elected from assemblydie 00, insure the movement of the lowermost of such assemblies intoposition to be picked up by stem 30, and to insure the removal ofassembled and crimped primers from a position between crimping die andcrimper head 00, certain feeding or knockdown" devices are provided.These carried on a bracket extending from a substantially verticallydisposed arm 00 rigidly secured at its upper end to a lever I00 pivotedat IOI to a bracket I02 secured to the left end plate I2. The rearwardor leftward end of lever I00 is 1 joined by a. link I00 to a-lever I00pivoted on an arbor I05 supported on end plate I2. Said'arbor I00likewise carries a lever I00, and levers III and I00 are joined to forma solid frame by a tie-rod I01 and a cross-bar I00. To cross-bar I00 issecured one side of a hinge assembly I00,

,the opposite side of which is joined to feed bar 00.. The knock-oil?plate 00 is carried by a bracket secured to the bar 00, and roller 00 isheld in contact with cam 0I by a spring 0" extending between arm 00 andbracket I02.

Referring to Fig. 8, it will be noted that the cam 01 has two recessedportions, hence there are two reciprocations of the feed bar 05 duringeach cycle of operation. What might be called the first advance of feedbar 00 occurs immediately after the ejection of an assembly A fromassembly die 00. The second downward movement of bar 00 occurs after thefull retraction of the assembly feed stem 30, to insure the movement ofan assembly into position in front of stem 30 for transfer into thecrimping die 00. The second movement of knock-off plate 00 issubstantially an idle movement, the first movement having served toremove any crimped primer projecting from crimping die 00 and adheringto the assembly which has elected it from the crimping die.

. L Tare su y The means for supplying and intermittently A roll of tapeT is supported on a horizontal table IIO (Fig. 1) from which the tapepasses through a guide identified generally by numeral II I and securedto the end plate II. From the guide the tape T passes to the left, alongthe side of the machine, around a roller forming part of a tape feedassembly identified generally by numeral II2, thence transverselythrough the machine, substantially along the left face of the centerplate I3 and through the various guide and supporting slots heretoforementioned.

The tape feeding means, reference being made to Figs. 6, 7 and 9, may beconstructed as follows:

To a bracket H3 secured to the fixed center plate I3 is attached abearing block H0 preferably of an anti-friction metal. The bearing blockI I0 comprises longitudinal slots adapted to jecting beneath head IIO toafford a spring engaging surface I2I and support a cam follower rollI22. Cam follower I22 is engaged during part of each revolution by theface of a barrel cam I23 secured to cam shaft I0, the configuration andlocation of the cam being seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 6 to be suchthat the cam follower and parts associated therewith are cammedoutwardly once on each revolution of shaft is in properly timed relationto the movement of the parts heretofore described. The displacement ofthe feed device by cam I23 is resisted, and the device is restored tonormal position, by a helical torsion spring I20, one end of which isformed into a hook I20a engaging the, aforementioned surface I2I andwhich is appropriately clamped at its other end I20b upon the centerplate IS. The outward movement of the follower roll I22 carries with itthe hook I20a on the spring, thus further tensioning the spring. As thecam disengages from'the roll I22 the tensioned spring asserts itself andreturns the assembly to its normal or inward position.

To the side of fixed bearing block IIO, opposite its attachment tobracket H3, is secured a plate I25 having secured thereto or struckoutwardly therefrom an overturned lip I20 carrying an adjustable screwl2l designed to engage a post I20 secured between the plates I20 and I30in the reciprocating tape feed assembly, to prevent inertia overthrow ofthe reciprocating assembly-on its cam-urged outward movement. To theparts I I0 and I ll of the reciprocating assembly are secured a lowerplate I20 and an upper plate 130, which plates project laterally beyondthe fixed plate I20 and are formed with bosses IOI-I02 which areapertured to receive a stud I33. Mounted on stud I03 and between thebosses I3I-I02 is a finger I30 urged to counter-clockwise (Fig. 7)rotation by a spring I30. ,An outwardly projecting finger piece I00secured to or integral with the finger I30 enables manual lifting of thefinger I30 when desired. Finger I30 projects through a slot I01 in theplate I20 and tends to engage the outer face of the bar IIO of-thereciprocating assembly. The tape passes between the end of finger I30and the adjacent surface of the bar IIO, which surface may be somewhatroughened to improve its tape gripping characteristics. Thus, when thereciprocating assembly is moved to the right (Fig. 7) by spring I20, thetape is gripped between the roughened surface of bar H0 and the end offinger I30 and is advanced. by an amount equal to the length of thereciprocating movement of the feed assembly. However, the inclination offinger I30 with respect to the surface of bar III is such that when thefeed assembly is moved to the left under the action of cam I23, thefinger merely slides upon the tape surface. Moreover, as above noted,the tape is at this time positively held from reverse movement by theengagement therein of the blanking receive for reciprocating movementtherein guide bars H6, H1 and H0 secured to or integral with atransversely slotted head I I5. Mounted in the head was is a spindle H0carrying the aforemenpunch 03 and the perforating punches 00. To enableaccurate adjustment of the stroke of the tape feed assembly, anadjustable screw .I30, threaded into an aperture in bearing block IIOabuts the adjacent face of head I i0, access to the screw being hadthrough a counterbored opening I30 in said head.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for the assembly of a plurality of components into aunitary structure, a fixed die plate having secured therein an assemblydie,

a pair of reciprocating gates disposed on opposite tioned'tape guidingand turning roll no and-prosides of said fixed die plate; means withinsaid die plate for sequentially positioning components of one class infront of said assembly die, means mounted on one of said gates forsequentially transferring components thus positioned into said die, atransfer stem guided in said second gate for reciprocation therethrough,means within the second of said gates for receiving a second class ofcomponents and sequentially positioning said components in front of saidtransfer stem, and means for actuating said transfer stem to transfersaid second component into the first component held in said die. or

2. In a machine for the assembly of electric primers comprising a body,an insulating disk and a contact button; a fixed die plate comprising anassembly die, a pair of reciprocating gates disposed on opposite sidesof said fixed die plate, tools projecting from said gates toward andinto apertures in said fixed die plate and guided therein, means forintroducing body components into said fixed die plate, means forintroducing contact buttons into one of said gates, means forsequentially transferring body components into said assembly die, meansmounted on one of said gates arranged to sequentially positioninsulating disks between and in alignment with the body componentin saidassembly die and a contact button in said gate. means for sequentiallytransferring each contact button and the insulating disk in alignmenttherewith into the body component in said assembly die, and means" forsequentially ejecting assemblies from said assembly die as an incidentto the sequential placement of body components therein.

3. Apparatus for the assembly of an electric primer comprising a bodyand a contact button; said apparatus comprising a fixed die plate havingtherein an assembly die. means for sequentially transferring bodies intosaid die, a reciprocating gate having therein a hollow member defining apassage in alignment with said die,- means for sequentially positioningcontact buttons in said passage in alignment with said die, means forreciprocating said gate to position the end of said hollow member inproximity to the end of a body held in saiddie, and means movableindependently of the movement of said gate for transferring contactbuttons through said passage into a body held in said die.

4. In a machine for the assembly of electric primers comprising a body,an insulating disk and a contact button; a fixed die plate comprising adie and a primer body receiving passage;

means for sequentially transferring primer bodies from said passage intosaid die; a reciprocating gate having therein a contact button receivingpassage, and a contact button transfer passage in alignment with saiddie; means for producing a disk of insulating material at the end ofsaid transfer passage, and means movable independently of said gateforadvancing a contact button through said transfer passage to engagesaid insulating disk and move both said'insulating disk and said contactbutton into a primer body held in said assembly die.

5. Apparatus for the assembly of electric primers comprising a body, aninsulating disk and a contact button, comprising in combination; a fixeddie plate having therein an assembly die, means for sequentiallydelivering primer bodies to said assembly die, means for feeding a tapeof insulating, material to a position in front of said die; areciprocating gate comprising a contact button receiving passage, and acontact button transfer passage in axial alignment with said die, meanssecured to said gate for severing a disk of insulating material fromsaid tape and holding said disk in alignment with said transfer passage,and means for moving a contact button through said transfer passage toengage said insulating disk and carry both said disk and said contactbutton into the primer body held in said assembly die.

6. Apparatus for the assembly of electric primers comprising a body, aninsulating disk and a contact button, said apparatus comprising incombination; a fixed die, means forsequentially positioning the primerbodies in said fixed die, means for feeding a tape of insulatingmaterial to a position in front of said die, a reciprocating gatecomprising a contact button transfer passage in alignment with said die,means secured to said gate adapted upon reciprocation thereof to sever adisk of insulating material from said tape, means for sequentiallypositioning contact buttons in said contact button transfer passage,yieldable means for retaining a contact button so positioned in anupright position in said passage, a contact button transfer stemassociated with said gate and movable therewith as said gate is advancedto sever said disk from said tape, and means for advancing said contactbutton transfer stem through said contact button transferpassage tocarry both a contact button and an insulating disk into the primer bodyheld in said die.

'7. In a machine for the assembly of a plurality of components into aunitary structure comprising in combination; a fixed die plate havingsecured therein a plurality of dies, a passage wholly within said platefor sequentially positioning components of one class in front of one ofsaid dies, a second passage wholly within said plate for receivingassemblies ejected from said first 'die and sequentially positioningsaid assemblies in *front .of a second die, a pair of reciprocatinggates disposed respectively on opposite sides of said fixed die plate,tools projecting from said gates toward said fixed die plate and guidedin apertures therein for cooperation with said dies, means within one ofsaid reciprocating gates for receiving a supply of components of'asecond classand sequentially aligning said components with said firstdie, and means reciprocably mounted on said one of said reciprocatingates and reciprocable through and independently of the reciprocation ofsaid gate for sequentially transferring said components of the secondclass through said gate into a component of the first class held in saidfirst die.

8. In a machine for the assembly of electric primers comprising a body,an insulating disk and a contact button, in combination; a fixed dieplate, means for maintaining a supply of bodies in said fixed die plateand for transferring said bodies sequentially into an assembly diesecured therein, means for holding a supply of insulating tape,indexable means for advancing said tape to a position in front of saidassembly die, intermittently moving tape feeding means, tape perforatingmeans, means for guiding the perforated tape to a position in front ofsaid assembly die, a reciprocating gate, means within said gate formaintaining a supply of contact buttons, means movable with said gatefor severing a disk of insulating material from said tape, contactbutton transfer means, and means for actuating said gate and saidcontact button transfer means to 11 J assemble an insulating disk and acontact button into a primer body held in said die.

' 9. Apparatus for the assembly of a plurality of components including abody and a perforated disk of flexible material: said apparatuscomprising in combination an ass bly die; means for sequentiallypositioning bodies in said die; a supply of flexible tape; tape feedingmeans comprising a reciprocating tape gripping device; means for holdingsaid tape against retrograde movement with said reciprocating grippingdevice, said holding means comprising a reciprocating $153: perforatingdevice and a, hollow reciprocating cutting device; driving means, andconnections from said drive means for actuating said-gripping device,said perforating device and said disk cutting device respectively insuch synchronism that said perforating device and said disk cuttingdevice extend through said tape throughoutthe retrograde movement ofsaid grippin device; and

transfer means reciprocable through said disk cutting device to transfera disk into a body held in saiddie.

10. Apparatus forethe assembly of an electric primer comprising a body,an insulating disk and a contact button; said apparatus comprising afixed die plate having secured therein an assembly die and a crimpingdie, a primer body passage within said plate terminat ng in a supportadapted to sequentially position primer bodies in alignment with saidassembly die, a primer assembly passage within said plate adapted toreceive assemblies ejected from said assembly die and conduct saidassemblies to a position in front of said crimping die, a removablesupport for the assembly in front of said crimping die, a feed bar insaid assembly passage, means for reciprocating said feed her, areciprocating gate disposed on one side of said die plate, a bodytransfer stem and an assembly transfer stem projecting from said gateinto apertures in said die plate in alignment with said assembly die andcrimping die respectively, means for reciprocating said gate to causesaid transfer stems to simultaneously advance a body and an assemblyinto said assembly die and crimping die respectively while ejecting fromsaid dies respectively an assembly and a crimped primer, a secondreciprocating gate disposed on the opposite side of said die plate, adisk cutter on said second gate projecting therefrom toward and intosaid die plate for positioning an insulating disk in alignment with saidassembly die, means in said second gate for holding a contact buttontherein in alignment with said disk cutter and assembly die, meansreciprocably mounted on said second gate and movable independently ofsaid second gate for transferring said button and said,

disk into a body held in said assembly die, and a crimping head on saidsecond gate projecting therefrom in alignment and for cooperation withsaid crimping die.

11. Apparatus for the assembly of an electric V primer. comprising abody, an insulating disk and one side of said die plate, a body transferstem and an assembly transfer stem projecting from said gate intoapertures in said dieplate in alignment with said assembly die andcrimping die respectively, means for reciprocating said gate to causesaid transfer stems to simultaneously advance a body and an assemblyinto said assembly die and crimping die respectively while ejecting fromsaid dies respectively an assembly and a crimped primer, a secondreciprocating gate disposed on the opposite side of said die plate, ahollow disk cutter on said second gate project- .ing therefrom towardand into said die plate for placing an insulating disk in alignment withsaid assembly die, means in said second gate for holding a contactbutton therein in alignment with said disk cutter and assembly die,means reciprocably mounted on said second gate in alignment with saidhollow disk cutter and movable independently of said second gate fortransferring said button through said disk cutter and carrying saidbutton and said disk into a body held in said assembly die, and acrimping head on said second gate projecting therefrom in alignment andfor cooperation with said crimping die.

12. Apparatus for the assembly of an electric primer comprising a body,an insulating disk and a contact button; said apparatus comprisinga'fixed die plate having secured therein an assembly d e and a crimpingdie, a primer body passage within said plate terminating in a supportadapted to sequentially position primer bodies in alignment with saidassembly die, a primer assembly passage within said plate adapted toreceive assemblies ejected from said asciprocating said gate to causesaid transfer stems to simultaneously advance a body and an assemblyinto said assembly die and crimping die respectively while ejecting fromsaid dies respectively an assembly and a crimped primer, a sec-, ondreciprocating gate disposed on the opposite side of said die plate, adisk cutter on said second gate projecting therefrom toward and intosaid die plate in alignment with said assembly die, contact buttonholding and transfer means mounted on said second gate, and a crimpinghead on said second gate projecting therefrom in alignment and forcooperation with said crimping die.

GEORGE R. ECKSTEIN.

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,320,238 Kelley Oct. 28, 191905,064 Colwell et a1. Dec. 15, 1942

